What can an internship reveal about the kind of work you want to do?

For Madison Vrba ’27, a summer with the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Johns Hopkins offered the chance to experience both sides of academic medicine. Madison spent her mornings observing clinical care and her afternoons contributing to a research project focused on maternal RSV vaccination, gaining a firsthand look at how research can shape patient care.

Madison received funding through the CCPD to help make the internship possible. Here’s Madison on how the experience strengthened her interest in women’s health and helped clarify the kind of physician she hopes to become:

“This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Johns Hopkins, where I worked within the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine on a quality improvement project focused on maternal RSV vaccination. The experience provided me with the opportunity to see how research, clinical care, and patient education come together to improve outcomes for mothers and their babies. 

Throughout the internship, my mornings were dedicated to clinical work, where I observed ultrasounds, patient consultations, deliveries, and the nuanced decision‑making that defines high‑risk obstetrics. Being in the room as providers balanced science, empathy, and communication gave me a deeper understanding of what patient‑centered care truly looks like. In the afternoons, I shifted into the research component; analyzing patient characteristics, interpreting results, and contributing to a project with real implications for patient care. This dual structure allowed me to see how academic medicine functions as a continuous loop of questions arising from patient care, which fuels research, and research ultimately shapes better outcomes. 

One of my biggest takeaways from this experience was realizing how much I enjoy the intersection of research and patient care. I entered the summer interested in pursuing medicine, particularly women’s health, but my time at Johns Hopkins strengthened my interest in obstetrics and gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine. More importantly, I learned that I want a career where I can not only care for individual patients but also contribute to research and improvements that can benefit larger populations. 

Receiving a stipend through this opportunity was incredibly meaningful because it made it possible for me to fully participate in an internship away from home without the same financial barriers. I am grateful to the CCPD for supporting me throughout the internship process. My summer at Johns Hopkins challenged me, expanded my skills, and gave me a clearer vision for the physician I aspire to become.” Madison Vrba ’27